I'd give the 12/2 8/3 split a go. I think having magic weekend as the split week would be a great spectacle.

If we stick with a straight 12 team league then I would go with top 6 playoffs and magic weekend as last 16 of the cup with the 12 SL teams going in at that stage.

Top of SL2 at the end of the regular season is promoted with a 1 year exemption

Bottom 2 finishers in super league (which could be 10th and 11th) added to next 4 placed teams in SL2 for a grand final series to playoff for the other sl place which receives no exemption.

I didnt decide anything, both claims of profit ( just the 2 ) just happened to coincide with successful Challenge Cup campaigns

Which might have an impact, yet I'd say the greater effect has been professionalism finally starting to bite. I was at a coaching workshop run by Barrie McDermott a few weeks ago and he said when he first started playing they (the players) were part-timers, by the time he'd finished playing they were full time professionals but now they're athletes.
I think the Championships could just about keep pace with full time professionals, but not with athletes. That's not necessarily a criticism of the Championship clubs, it's just how it is.

For instance at Leeds the backroom staff has expanded dramatically in both size and expertise. It's more than doubled in size in 5 years and expertise-wise is now at the point where the u18's strength & conditioning coach holds both an MSc in Sport & Exercise Science and a PhD in Fluid and Electrolyte Balance in Rugby Players. This is a far cry from the days of Mal Reilly as Assistant coach, only 10 years ago, simply telling players to run harder.

The game has moved beyond the current reach of many clubs, we need to find a way of helping them get back within reach again.

If the recession and financial crisis had not hit, I suspect at least one of those would be complete and the other way down the planning stage if not both finished.

To call all super league players athletes is a mistake, some people call football players athletes. Now don't get me wrong the modern player is super fit strong and the best prepared they have ever been. Only a handful would be classed as athletes, probably a few more at the top clubs.

Oh and there is something to be said for telling players to run harder, see Sam thaiday, Barrie mac, willie mason. Mark o medley in his pomp.

I'm not sure why they wouldn't be classed as athletes, in the same way as footballers, tennis players etc are. They have their bodies at peak condition for their particular sport.

But the term was more to describe the differences in the preparation of a SL player now compared to 10 years ago compared to 10 years before that. As was the comment about telling players to run harder. There have been massive changes in this area and its an area that requires full time players, full time coaches and expertise. All those have high costs attached to them, costs the Championship clubs can't afford currently.